Carbon nanocomposite materials as medicinal depot

The goal of the present work is to study the effects of surface chemical nature and the structural features of carbon materials on the immobilization of biologically active substances. We studied nanocomposite materials, the structure of which comprises nanodiamond particles bonded by a graphite-like matrix. The materials differ by their open porosity and surface area. Surface functional groups and physical characteristics of the nanocomposite materials are analysed. Ferments, namely trypsin and glucose oxidase, and the antibiotic canamicine were immobilized using different methods. As a result of the analysed ferment and antimicrobic activities, we prove that nanocomposite materials can be used as medicinal depot. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.